Slideshow: Wartime spirit shines at Brighouse 1940s Weekend

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Published:14:33Monday 06 June 2016

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The temperatures soared along with the crowds as thousands enjoyed the Brighouse 1940s Festival.

Over 100,000 people packed into Brighouse over the four days of the event coming from all over the country for what is now one of the leading 40s events in the country.

Brighouse 1940s weekend

Steven Lord, one of the organisers said “Our volunteers have worked hard for months to organise this event and thankfully this very complex event ran like clockwork. Our efforts have been rewarded with huge crowds of happy visitors who have had a great time. The feedback has been 100 per cent positive.”

The event used the Queen’s 90th birthday as a theme to encourage a street party atmosphere and it was declared a great success by entertainment organiser John Buxton. “It’s been a fantastic weekend for Brighouse. We are now calling this event “Britain’s favourite 1940s festival” because it has become such a great family weekend. With Brighouse folk being so friendly and welcoming, everybody from two-year-olds to 90-year-olds had a great time.”

Visitors saw streets full of 40s displays, both military and civilian, historic vehicles and thousands of re-enactors in period costume along with a Spitfire, vintage bus, and here the roar of a wartime Rolls Royce Merlin engine as fitted in the Lancaster bomber.

Live music and dancing throughout the town provided marvellous free entertainment over the weekend.

An army of volunteers led by Robert Brett kept the stages running smoothly. He said: “The performers were all top class professionals and it was a joy to work with them. They know we have to keep the show going to entertain all our thousands of visitors.”

A street food and vintage clothes market provided plenty on interest all around the town.

Chair of the BBI Anne Colley said: “The BBI pay for the whole event without any outside funding. Indeed we have to pay Calderdale Council to put it. The market is vital in providing income and wherever possible all our suppliers and market stalls are local.”

The BBI has plans for further events over the rest of the year with a Canal, Beer & Music Festival on August 20 and 21 and the Victorian Christmas Festival in November.

John Buxton said: “We put on all these events in the town centre to keep the town thriving and they are completely free to attend. This event is worth over £1 million to the local economy. We have great plans for the new Brighouse Festival at the end of October and to keep the momentum going.”